Eoin Morgan hopes England’s cricket heroes can rally the country again – even in an empty stadium
EOIN MORGAN wants to help give a massive morale boost to the nation for the second summer running.
One-day captain Morgan believes playing cricket again - even in the eerie silence of an empty stadium - would lift spirits and engage bodies and brains.
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So, a year after leading England to their incredible, nerve-shredding World Cup triumph, Morgan is itching to strap on his pads.
But, if that is not possible and even the World Twenty20 in Australia in October is called off, he will abandon any thoughts of retirement and remain white ball skipper at least until November 2021.
The ECB are looking at the possibility of playing matches in a “bio-secure environment” behind closed doors, potentially with all players, officials and staff placed in lockdown at the same hotel.
New father Morgan, 33, whose wife Tara gave birth to their son Leo on March 9, said: “If medical experts advised us it was okay to play behind closed doors and it was on TV, I think that would be a huge step forward for the game.
“Very rarely are industries actually missed a huge amount...but I think we are going through one of those at the moment. Sport can play a huge role in uplifting the world and people's perspective.
“Isolation encourages idle minds and sport can create that theatre and level of expectation around what it's like to be outside again. Playing cricket again, even behind closed doors, would help boost the nation’s morale, I think.”
Morgan should now be playing in the Indian Premier League after Kolkata Knight Riders paid £565,000 for him in the auction in December.
But the postponement of the world’s most lucrative T20 league is allowing Morgan more time at home with his new arrival.
He explained: “My wife gave birth to our first child three weeks ago so we’ve been preoccupied and isolated a little longer than anyone else, which is really nice.
“We’ve been hunkered away and not under pressure to go off and play cricket. I’ve had some sleep, but in very short periods.
"It’s a very exciting time for us. If the IPL comes, great, but there are bigger things to worry about at the moment.”
Morgan added: “I see every option being viable during this extraordinary time. The impact on the game economically and financially is something we've never come across.
“From a player’s point of view, we want to do as much as we can to try to keep things going. If there’s an opportunity to play, I’d like to think every player would be behind it. I certainly am.
“But, obviously, times are still uncertain and there’s information coming out daily. Realistically, we can’t think about playing, or when our first game will be, until the situation is downgraded.
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“Guys were going to play in the IPL and the Caribbean Premier League and the Blast and the Hundred at home. All of that is up in the air at the moment but every country is in the same boat. But I’m still looking to play in the next two Twenty20 World Cups.
“Right now, it’s about managing this period in your life and adhering to government regulations.”
Morgan is full of admiration for his vice-captain Jos Buttler, who is auctioning the shirt he wore in the World Cup final to raise funds for two hospitals. Bids have exceeded £65,000.
He believes more players will follow Buttler’s lead.
Morgan explained: “It’s an incredibly kind gesture by Jos. We’ve talked about memorabilia and, if I can help in any way by auctioning off or donating to charity, I’d do that.
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“We’ve seen people donate during the Australian bush fires with Shane Warne auctioning his Baggy Green cap for a million dollars or something absolutely ridiculous.
"The impact that can have on many lives as opposed to sitting in a drawer as a bit of a trophy is huge.
“But other people are different. Justin Langer (Australia’s coach) said he could never see a situation where he’d do something like that. I find that hard to believe.”